A discussion of the fascinating histories
behind the words used in human anatomy.

7/9/07

Molar, from the Latin mola, mill or millstone. The upper and lower molars, grinding as we chew, work like millstones.

Mola also gave us immolate, to kill or destroy. The original meaning of immolate was sacrificial killing; its derivation stems from the ancient custom of sprinkling victims with salted, ground grain.

One example of an ancient Roman mola. Donkeys (or slaves) would push the handles to turn the millstone and grind the grain, poured in at the top, against the circular stone base. The device pictured is about 5 feet high. Drawing from www.dl.ket.org/latin2/mores/slaves/countryslave.htm

Upper and lower first molars. Notice the matching contours of the crowns' surfaces, an adaptation for grinding action. Adpated from dentistry.uic.edu/depts/oralb/OCCREVIS.htm

Posted by
Dr. C.

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Word indexAll posts are by Dr. A. Carey Carpenter, Palomar College, San Marcos California, and are taken from a book he is writing on the etymology of anatomical words titled Tough Mother in a Turkish Saddle.